Genius Brands International Inc., following the pending acquisition of Canada’s WOW! Unlimited Media Inc. and strategic investment in Germany’s Your Family Entertainment AG (YFE), has unveiled a bold new block of children’s animated series and expanded distribution for its international channels. The new lineup and branding is spearheaded by Kartoon Channel! Worldwide’s new MD Paul Robinson, who previously served as MD of Walt Disney Television International and senior VP Disney channel worldwide.
The new block on the YFE International channels will be branded “Kartoon Genius” and will deliver positive entertainment for children, underscored by safety and enrichment.
Kartoon Genius will air every morning on Genius Brands International’s new channel footprint across Europe, the Middle East and Latin America, and is the first step in enhancing the quality and range of content on YFE’s existing platforms.
Genius Brands chairman and CEO Andy Heyward stated, “With his background as MD of Walt Disney Television International and his successful history setting up children’s content delivery systems worldwide, there is nobody in my opinion more qualified than Paul Robinson to build value for this company and create the next great global children’s distribution system.”
Paul Robinson commented, “I am pleased to announce the first global initiative to enhance and deliver even better content and experiences to kids, families, and our affiliate partners across international markets through Kartoon Genius, a daily block of top quality, exclusive, branded, first run animated content, that will be defined by being not just entertaining, but also by being safe and enriching. In today’s world, more than ever, parents want to know that what their kids are watching on television is safe. We hear this over and over again, and Genius Brands is committed to fulfilling it not only as a producer, but also now as a global broadcaster through Kartoon Channel! Worldwide. There will be no violence, no inappropriate language, images, negative role models, or stereotypes. Kartoon Channel! in the U.S. has embraced these messages, which we plan to now elevate globally to the next level through our expanded lineup and increased distribution footprint across Europe/Middle East/Africa, Asia-Pacific, and South America. We believe that there is no other global channel system for children out there delivering this level quality of curated safe content today.”
Kartoon Genius’ new global lineup will include first run and exclusive content led by:
- Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger: health, exercise and nutrition
- Rainbow Rangers: protecting the environment
- Warren Buffett’s Secret Millionaires Club: financial literacy for kids
- Albert: answering kid’s questions, such as the origins of life and how things work
- Space Yoghurt: creative problem solving and teamwork
- Kids Songs: have fun, sing together and get up and dance
- Reboot: adventures around the first fully computer-generated characters
Robinson added, “Kartoon Channel! Worldwide plans to grow the existing footprint of its YFE international channels by partnering across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Australasia with pay TV platforms that currently don’t carry the channel and need a high quality, safe children’s channel. Additionally, as Kartoon Channel! has done in the U.S., we plan to expand distribution in the international markets on connected devices, smart TVs, tablets and mobile devices, with access through Android TV and Apple TV, as well as AVoD, SVoD and FAST channels in international markets.”
Heyward commented, “This launch immediately follows and builds upon the company’s pending acquisition of WOW! Unlimited Media and strategic investment into YFE, as one of Europe’s largest distributors and broadcasters of high-quality programs for children and families. YFE brings a global award-winning streaming and broadcast footprint on satellite, cable, OTT, and terrestrial networks—providing us a streaming foothold outside the United States, in Europe, and the rest of the world. The vision of YFE’s CEO Stefan Piech, and the broadcast experience of COO Bernd Wendeln, enriches the Genius Brands’ management team and helps position the company to become the leading children’s content provider and broadcaster in the future.”
